Baby gift problems

[Dollyollie]

Me and DP are expecting our first child in January of next year. It is my parents first grandchild and grand parents first great grandchild, DP dm has 4 grandchildren already but is no less excited about this one.

Both sides of the family are naturally very excited. My dm from the beginning said she wanted to buy the pram and my gran the car seat that goes from birth to age 4 both of these gifts will be our Christmas presents as well as baby gifts which were very grateful for. My parents are divorced and my DF has offered to buy the cot and paint a chest of draws for us, this means that most of the big stuff has been taken care of.

Now this is where some problems have arisen. My partner asked what she could get for us and I asked for the cot bedding as we will need it. DP has now told me mil is upset as my family are making the big purchases and she feels cheap getting us the cot bedding. I've gone back to the drawing board and thought of some other things she could purchase as well if she feels like she wants to spend more. I've never expected anyone to buy anything for us and we're really grateful as everyone is saving us so much but it not about the money to me. It's the thought that counts. I don't think it helps that we're not very close or that my DP hasn't passed on the messages about what else we would like for the baby.

I know DP worries a lot about his dm as she's on her own and doesn't want her to worry about money and such so I took that into account. I don't want to offend her and there are other things we will need but just because they're not as big doesn't mean they won't be greatly appreciated and very much needed. I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place as she's already upset which was never my intention.

Video baby monitor?

I was also going to suggest a Sleepyhead. Expensive enough to be a generous gift without being absurd. Also has the potential to be the best bit of kit you'll own and you'll be raving to her about it!!

An ergo sounds a great idea - but just watch out as there are lots of fakes out there
If you haven't used one before it may be worth waiting until the baby arrives and then visiting a sling library to see which carrier you like as there are so many different options and it's good to have a try to find the one that suits you best

I loved my Ergo - definitely stick it on the list. I second a co-sleeper to attach to your bed.

Typing this with 10 day old DD on my chest...

An ErgoBaby (irder from somewhere reputable)
John Lewis vouchers for clothes/buy clothes together
A Sleepyhead
Amazon Prime subscription
An order for Cook (or similar) ready meals
A mobile/early Lamaze toy

Bless your MiL, sounds v sweet. Maybe make a list of things and she can pick for herself? Make it things if various price points so she can choose a range she is comfortable with.

Get a Sleepyhead on your list. Best baby thing I own by far!

What about some other furniture like - wardrobe or a changing table?

Bedside crib, you won't use the cut for months

Not always the case Lozmatoz we used the cot from day one with our two.

Not exactly on topic, but Ikea does a cot with removable side which we're using bedside and which will see DD through to a proper bed - "Gulliver". About £60 plus mattress.

I second going to a sling library before you buy one. You may want something like a close Caboo for the first few months and then something different.

I would just get a second hand jumperoo and an ikea high chair.

If someone was buying me something expensive I would have asked for a sleepyhead style thing, cosleeper cot, baby Bjorn bouncer or a voucher for a baby massage course.

So many great ideas on here. To add my two-penneth's worth..

• Sleepyhead
• Bedside crib like a chicco next to me
• A sling (but I definitely recommend going to a sling library if you can and trying some on and sometimes high street ones aren't the best - i.e they have the baby facing outwards which is not good)
• Video baby monitor
• Another piece of nursery furniture like the chest of drawers or wardrobe.
• Newborn photo shoot

Don't bother with an expensive highchair, they tend to be tricky to clean and a £15 ikea antilop one is the one I and all my friends swear by!

We've been donated our pram and car seat, SIL and BIL are buying our cot for us after they insisted and wouldn't take no for an answer. My parents have been buying up a stash of nappies (differet sizes as he grows into them), wipes, everything they class as the 'expensive stuff' so we should be good for months. Every time I mention something they tell me not to get it but to wait til they've come down in a few weeks with everything. I still don't know everything they've bought but step mum has also made things for me.
Just because she can't get anything big, doesn't mean she can't contribute. The things my parents are getting me will probbly total the same as a new pushchair or cot and will reduce the amount of money we initially spend.

Also the pram won't be in use much after 6-8 months. Maybe ask whether she would fund the next buggy that will take them through after the pram stage?

My MIL won't stop giving me feckin knitted cardis 🙄 She's not making them, she just keeps grabbing them at church sales. Really ugly garish ones too. Must have at least fifteen now! Oh and three knitted mice the other day. I have no idea what to do with them!

@Lemondrop99 that's hilarious 😂😂😂 what ate you doing with them? Can you burn them at all? Give them to a charity shop? Gift them back to her for Christmas?

Depends on my mood. The reasonable option would be to hide them until she's forgotten about them, then send them off to a charity shop. However, post birth hormones might lead me to think a ritualistic burning of them would be great fun!

@Lemondrop99 I've got my gran on knitting duty... she does make beautiful stuff though and has a good taste in colours lol